I've just watched David Cameron's first Downing Street press conference, relieved that he hadn't abandoned Tony Blair's useful innovation after five months without one. I think he did well in a difficult situation. He has good tone.

Well, the unpredictable nature of events, random and relentless, is what consumes so much of a modern prime minister's time. To his credit Cameron got himself properly briefed and spoke to the Norgrove family before facing my colleagues' questions. He could, I suppose, have ducked it. He could have distanced himself from the military or from William Hague, who signed off on the rescue plan. He didn't.

The emerging controversy over the revelation consumed a lot of press conference energy and is dominating the media fall-out. Not ideal, but that's life.

It's clearer than ever that the flaws in a graduate tax have sunk it, as they did when Labour considered the option. The Browne review – about to be published – concludes it would cost too much and drive people to foreign universities, damaging ours. I fear he's right and fees will rise. Has Vince Cable had to compromise? Everyone has to, says Mr Tactful.

Cameron ducked a sharp BBC question reminding him that he accused Labour of lying when it said during the election that the Tories had secret plans to curb winter fuel payments and free bus passes. Would he repeat his pledge to protect them? He almost – not quite – did, but insisted there was no secret plan. So Labour was lying. Hmm.

Fairness? It consists of three elements, protecting the poor, not asking others to pay too much in tax and – this is the tricky bit – in asking what people deserve. You can't ask hard-working people to pay to keep others in idleness, Cameron suggested. He's right to include that element too.

I was impressed by his cunning when Bloomberg's reporter asked him to confirm that the cut in child benefit for the £44,000-plus group is actually £42,000-plus because George Osborne's emergency budget in June trimmed the allowance. In his long, flowery answer the PM conceded the point – "you are absolutely right about the threshold" – but only in a way most viewers might have missed. Tradecraft, eh?

But, as I said earlier, it's the well-mannered, understated tone which sees him through the tricky bits. He evidently listens to himself talking and corrects silliness – laughs at himself even. He is courteous, remembers the names of regional reporters as well as Nick Robinson. He even took as his final question from one Polly Toynbee – perhaps his chief media tormentor.

Asked whether he was a bit of a clique-monger and a bit too leftwing, as alleged by Lord Tebbit, Cameron condescended by suggesting the Thatcherite peer and Ukip fellow-traveller is accusing him of being too leftwing and too rightwing. No, he isn't. Norman will be cross.